7 Ways to Transform Your Cookie-Cutter Rental Home

Decorate a short-term apartment with long-term style

Rentals come with their fair share of design dilemmas, from a weird layout to a jumble of mismatched finishes, and while you might be dying to knock down a wall or rip up the flooring, doing so probably just isn’t feasible. As someone who has rented apartments since college, Madeline Fraser, the chief marketing officer and cofounder of free room design app Homee, has seen it all—and she knows a thing or two about upping the style of semipermanent spaces. “In general, you have this fear of screwing things up,” she says. “You have to be sneaky and smart about what you do.” Read on to discover Fraser’s tried-and-true tips for making any place feel like home, even if it’s just for a little while.

Wake up the walls
With removable wallpaper, that is. Choose a vibrant pattern for a single statement wall or stick with a textured neutral style if you want to cover a larger space. “You don’t want to go crazy; you want to pick a focus—maybe the wall that’s behind your bed or behind your sofa. It could also be great for a bathroom wall,” says Fraser. Drawing attention to one spot will instantly make a small rental feel bigger.

Highlight little details
Available in a huge variety of patterns and colors, this Japanese masking tape is all you need to spruce up the edges of a plain white dresser or desk. More important, it’s easily removable.
String up some style “Lighting can transform a space in a minute,” says Fraser, and simple LED string lights have found their way into all of her rentals. Fraser likes to use them to define a room, hanging them along the crease where the ceiling and wall meet with pushpins or a staple gun.
Put a nonfunctioning fireplace to good use
Fraser was lucky enough to have not one but two nonworking fireplaces in a past apartment. Sure, a real fire wasn’t possible, but Fraser still wanted that warm glow. She found a few elevated candle holders—better for safety and collecting wax—and lit a bunch of pillar candles for an ultracozy vibe.

Make your floors work for you
“When you move into a rental, chances are you’re not going to love your floors. Having a rug that really grounds each room is so important,” says Fraser. She’s not just talking about the living room. Layer rugs in spaces with wall-to-wall carpeting and place runners in your entryway and kitchen to bring in some welcome color and texture.
Reflect on the room
Another easy way to make a small area feel spacious? Mirrors. Instead of a typical gallery wall, Fraser will hang a mirror over the sofa and flank it with artwork.
Take curtains to the next level
“When you’re finding the right curtains, you don’t want them to graze the floor; you want them to billow,” says Fraser. “Adding more height is better. Go longer. The worst thing is to have a short curtain.” She always hangs her drapes six to eight inches above the window with two inches of fabric pooling on the floor to create the illusion of a much taller room.

Leave a Reply

About our blog

Our agents write often to give you the latest insights on owning a home or property in the Chattanooga area.

Testimonials

I couldn’t have asked for a more attentive, reliable and conscientious realtor than Collin Rogers. Collin was right in there taking notes, making sure all my questions were answered. If he couldn’t, he would find the answer and get right back to me.
Collin Rogers is partner with
Barry & Diane Evans | Evans & Friends

Barbara

We can not imagine going through this process without the guidance of Collin, Barry & Diane. Their instincts about the market are spot on and their results speak for themselves. Thank you for helping us buy and sell our homes.
Collin Rogers is Partner with Barry Evans | The Evans Group

Brian & Emily

“My wife and I were so very pleased with the overall professional work and expertise of agents Collin Rogers and Lori Dodd plus the financial team that moved us through a very less than normal deal.” We would recommend Keller Williams and the above agents to any family looking to purchase in the southeastern part of Tennessee.
Collin Rogers and Lori Dodd are Realtor Partners for Barry & Diane Evans | The Evans Group

Franklin and Deborah

Collin was right there, taking notes, making sure all my questions were answered-if he couldn’t, he would find the answer, and get right back to me. I couldn’t have asked for a more attentive, reliable and conscientious realtor.
Collin Rogers is Partner with Barry Evans | Evans & Friends

Barbara

A realtor in Murfreesboro suggested Barry, and when we talked, I felt comfortable with him. Barry & Diane’s counsel and understanding of our situation made us feel they would do their best for us. Cassie was a great resource if we had questions, and along with Barry & Diane, that was good.
Cassie Bellpanni is Partner with Barry & Diane Evans |Evans & Friends

Berta

A special thanks to Mike Machaskee for his outstanding job to help me find a home. He helped me look for over 3 years and countless homes. I now consider Mike a friend.
Mike Machaskee is a Realtor Partner for Barry & Diane Evans | The Evans Group

Jeremiah

I can’t say enough good things about Shannon. Attentive, proactive, asked questions to understand our needs/wants. She always made time for us, she was patient when we were picky. We never felt pressured and always felts like she had our best interests in mind. There were many times that my husband and I wondered about how she could be so generous with her time and so accessible. She was always professional and organized and knew exactly what features we were looking for. Thank you, thank you,…

James and Miriam

We met with several different realty groups and could tell immediately that Shannon was a step above the rest – she was informative, very responsive, resourceful and a true professional. Shannon came up with creative staging ideas and even pitched into help. She was a true team player and really guided us through his process. I already referred her to my neighbor and they just closed on their deal.
Shannon Wilson is Partner with Barry Evans | Evan & Friends

Chamise

Diane Evans was on the ball with her services. Diane was very effective with great advice, right time and right place. Diane was working all hours and always available. She was knowledgeable, honest and straightforward, the kind of professionals I enjoy working with.

Julia

Carolyn Limerick had answers to all our questions and was highly professional. She dotted all the “i’s” and crossed all the “t’s.” We would recommend Carolyn to our best friends.
Carolyn Limerick is partner with
Barry & Diane Evans | Evans & Friends